Legal Pot in California in 2010? "Oaksterdam" Prov

[Puffin13]

Legal Pot in California in 2010? "Oaksterdam" Provides the Model

There is a buzz moving through the culture, as the public attitudes around cannabis use are rapidly shifting, that the legalization of marijuana in some states, particularly California, is a growing possibility.

Recent polling by Zogby in May demonstrated that a majority of Americans, say it "makes sense to tax and regulate" marijuana. The Zogby poll, commissioned by the conservative-oriented O'Leary Report, found 52 percent in favor of legalization, only 37 percent opposed. As Ryan Grim reports on the Huffington Post , a previous ABC News/Washington Post poll found 46 percent in support. In California, a Field Poll found 56 percent backing legalization and as a result California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called for an open debate on legalization, all which suggest that American society may be reaching a tipping point when it comes to legal pot.

An array of new circumstances -- Democrats in power, economic recession leaving states starving for revenue that could come from taxing cannabis sales, less funds for law enforcement and Mexican drug operatives moving into the US to grow huge amounts of untaxed pot, contributing to the horrible drug violence South of the Border -- support the growing public support for legalization of pot.

Anther element perhaps pushing changes to our pot laws is the gaggle of strange bed fellows who are outspoken on the issue. Former Secretary of State George Shultz and the late conservative economist Milton Friedman have been for legalization for years. But recently Fox News' latest conservative wild man Glenn Beck and CNN's much more reasonable Jack Cafferty have publicly questioned the billions spent each year fighting the endless war against drugs. They are joining the growing chorus that suggest it now makes more financial and social sense to tax and regulate marijuana.

At the epicenter of legal pot talk and strategic political action is Richard Lee, a highly successful pot entrepreneur, who over the past decade has turned the "uptown" entertainment area of downtown Oakland, California into what many call Oaksterdam, a play on Amsterdam, their sister city in Holland. A centerpiece of the Oakland transformation is Oaksterdam University which Lee founded to prepare people for jobs in the cannabis industry. As he told MSNBC, "my basic idea is to professionalize the industry, and have it taken seriously just like beer and distilling hard liquor." The University, along with half a dozen other "cannabis businesses," controlled by Lee bring thousands of visitors to Oakland daily.

Source & rest of article

[Rasa]

The day its legalized fully even in one state I will cry my eyes out, it will be such a beautiful day!

[darkglobe]

Excellent news...but aint it amazing how it all comes down to profiteering...no thought of the medical advantages,etc...its like,"hey,were fucked ...lets start taxing marijuana to make some money..."

Oh,and when John Stewart on, The Daily Show, was talking about the Cali/mj situation recently ,and the possibilities of NY doing the same,the whole audience were cheering their heads off...I assume NY wouldn't be too far behind...would they ?

[sh@dy]

The day its legalized fully even in one state I will cry my eyes out, it will be such a beautiful day!

there wont be just one big joint doing its round on this day

[Twichaldinho]

Excellent news...but aint it amazing how it all comes down to profiteering...no thought of the medical advantages,etc...its like,"hey,were fucked ...lets start taxing marijuana to make some money..."

I was thinking the same thing mate, money talks. Whats the bets that when Cali Legalizes, big Tobacco corps are the first to apply for the rights to grow and package herb.
I can see it now, " a pack of Marlboro Skunk and some Zigzags please"

[sh@dy]

Excellent news...but aint it amazing how it all comes down to profiteering...no thought of the medical advantages,etc...its like,"hey,were fucked ...lets start taxing marijuana to make some money..."

I was thinking the same thing mate, money talks. Whats the bets that when Cali Legalizes, big Tobacco corps are the first to apply for the rights to grow and package herb.
I can see it now, " a pack of Marlboro Skunk and some Zigzags please"

you are totaly right....they wil be the first to set up weed-cigarettes, would be sold just like any other cigarettes
but to be honest I really think the coffeeshop-model will be the one to win, so Philip Morris would have to pay much to change this.....but who knows

[Sir Niall of Essex-sire]

I hope a coffeeshop BUT with a regulated supply emerges. So certain people/companies can apply to grow for certain places. Government inspections of paperwork i.e how many plants grown how much produced wet and dry, where it goes to. Cross check the information with that recorded by recipitants of the product. Inspections of facilities to make sure everythink is by the book, safe and enviormentally safe as possible.

[Ingwey Gooblebogger]

I assume NY wouldn't be too far behind...would they ?

Unfortunately, New York State has some of the harshest drug laws ("The Rockefeller Laws"). So, those would first have to be repealed.

Cali had decrim in the 1970's(and that was pretty cool), but full legalization now seems (to me) to be a long way off. Alaska also used to have some VERY cool laws (If I recall correctly, like up up to a pound (or two) for personal use was kosher.) Sadly, those states got caught up in the right (Repubilcan) shift along with the other 48 states, and consequently enacted harsh laws.

My guess is that if any state does, indeed, fully legalize, then the first to do so would be California. However, the federal law enforcement may not dig such a move and could still arrest. So, any state that legalizes it would also have to indemnify cannabis users in its jurisdiction from federal prosecution.

[Max Flower]

The people with the most to lose with legalization are the police and organized crime. That's why IMO its been impossible to end the prohibition on cannabis. GO CAULIFORNIA!

/Would love to sit on the beach or some bluff watching the sunset with some primo hash or sticky icky.

MF

[Ingwey Gooblebogger]

Hey Max!

If you are in Maritimes (Canada Eastside?), then you could spark a spliff on the beach and watch a sunrise! (I love the East Coast. I hope to move to the the Maritimes someday! Hopewell rocks would be a cool place to trip. Same with Peggy's Cove, PEI, or Gros Morne, etc.)

OR hop out to Vancouver/Victoria, spark a doobie on the beach, and watch a sunset!

The people with the most to lose with legalization are the police and organized crime. That's why IMO its been impossible to end the prohibition on cannabis. GO CAULIFORNIA!

You've got that right! ..No more overtime...no more excuse for more manpower if grass were legalized.